what is panting

Panting is a behavior characterized by quick, shallow breaths that can be observed in humans and animals. In humans, panting is a response to physical exertion or stress, and it helps to regulate body temperature and oxygen levels. In animals, panting is a normal behavior for happy and active dogs, and it helps them cool themselves down because they cannot sweat like humans do. However, panting can also be a sign of an underlying medical issue in dogs, such as heat stroke, pain, medication, nausea, parasites, hernia, anemia, pneumonia, or a collapsing windpipe. It is important to recognize abnormal breathing and panting in dogs, and to know what the healthy breathing rate is for your dog. On average, healthy dogs will take between 15 and 35 breaths each minute while resting, and anything more frequent than 40 breaths each minute while your dog is resting will be considered abnormal and should be looked into.